Watching players celebrate with fans a proud moment - manager

Stags’ boss David Flitcroft has said that watching the Mansfield players celebrate with the travelling supporters in today’s win over Grimsby ‘meant a lot’ to him.

The win at Blundell Park – Stags’ first league victory there since 1987 – was watched by 865 Mansfield fans, with the win stretching the unbeaten streak in Sky Bet League Two to 17 matches.

The Mansfield boss says that he was ‘proud’ to watch his charges celebrate with the Stags’ faithful.

“The credit [for the win] has to go to the football club,” he said. “We had a stayover last night which gave us an opportunity to get some recovery into the players.

“It’s really important to be as professional as you can be around Christmas time. The players have committed to everything.

“First ten minutes we weren’t quite at it. Our work wasn’t as careful as it has been. Once we got used to our surroundings, how we’re not three or four goals up, I really don’t know.

“Their ‘keeper was man of the match at our place and he was man of the match today. I felt that if we got that second goal, it was game over. They didn’t look like scoring, but they might have nicked one.

“[Conrad] Logan was a passenger second half, and I thought the three lads at the back were outstanding.

“Again, Bish [Neal Bishop], I don’t know how he keeps doing it. That energy he displays, it almost defies logic a little bit.

“When you see the players go and celebrate with the supporters who have paid a lot of money to watch football, it gives you a sense of pride.”

David Flitcroft, manager

“It was a brilliant squad performance, and everyone was committed to this win. I’m really delighted for the players and the supporters.

“To watch the players celebrate with the supporters, that means a lot to me. They have travelled over again in their numbers.

“When you see the players go and celebrate with the supporters who have paid a lot of money to watch football, it gives you a sense of pride.”

Following the victory, the manager praised the professionalism from his players and staff shown in the build-up to today’s match.

“When we talk about momentum, I think pre-season gave us that. It gave us a foundation and a solid platform to work off.

“This is a really tough place to come to [Blundell Park]. They’re young, energetic, and doing exactly what the manager asks.

“I think the conditions helped us a little. Today it was still and calm and the surface was okay. We moved it really well. The word ‘professional’ epitomises the performance and the last 48 hours from the players and staff.

“Everyone has committed to the programme, which is quite an intense programme. We can now really plan and plot through January.”

Up next for the Stags is a trip to in-form Carlisle in Sky Bet League Two on Saturday, a side that David Flitcroft believes will be a ‘tough opponent.’

“Grimsby have picked up and Carlisle are flying. They have a lot of threats. The manager places high demands on himself and on his teams.

“They will be a tough opponent but we have something to protect and honour. The pitch is beautiful up there [Carlisle]. It’s a big pitch.

“It’s a fantastic pitch to move the ball on, and that’s the intent that we’ll go up there with.”

Lastly, the manager gave an update on the club’s stance on transfer activity, with the January window now open for business.

“We do want to add [to the squad in January]. We want to make sure that we have cover and competition.

“The balance of the squad has to be right and your numbers have to be right. It’s vital that you have cover for every position.

“Things will move and change all through January like in every window. It’s like a domino effect where one player moving will loosen off a player somewhere else.

“We have Craig Davies out of action for a few months, and I have no real intel on Alex MacDonald at the moment. They are two very good players for us.

“We have four weeks to make good decisions, and there’s no panic as the squad we have is fantastic. It’s just about making sure we are covered in every position and we have enough attacking threat, midfield guile and defensive cover.”